observable 
ble of being observed or noticed, or viewed 
with interest or attention. 
That a trusted agent commonly acquires power over his 
principal is a fact everywhere observable. 
U. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 505. 
2. Noticeable; worthy of observation; note- 
worthy; hence, remarkable. 
It is observable that, loving his ease go well as he did, he 
should run voluntarily into such troubles. 
Baiter, King John, an. 1216. 
This towne was formerly a Greeke colonie, built by the 
Samians, a reasonable commodious port, and full of ob- 
fervable antiquities. Evelyn, Diary, Feb. 7, 1645. 
3. That may or must be observed, followed, or 
kept: as, the formalities observable at court. 
The forms observable in social intercourse occur also in 
political and religious intercourse as forms of homage and 
forms of worship. H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 348. 
H.t . A noticeable or noteworthy fact or 
thing ; something worth observing. 
Among other observable*, we drunk the King's health 
out of a gilt cup given by King Henry VIII. to this Com- 
pany. Pepys, Diary, J. 391. 
My chief Care hath been to be as particular as was con- 
sistent with ray intended brevity, in setting down such 
Observable* as I met with. Dampier, Voyages, I., Pref. 
observableness (ob-zer'va-bl-nes), . The 
character of being observable. 
observably (ob-zer'va-bli), adv. In an observa- 
ble, noticeable, ornoteworthymanner; remark- 
ably. 
And therefore also It is prodigious to have thunder in a 
clear sky, as is observably recorded in some histories. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., 11. 5. 
observalt (ob-zer'val), . [< observe + -al.'] 
Observation. 
A previous observal of what has been said of them. 
Roger North, Examen, p. 659. (Davies.) 
observance (ob-zer'vans), . [< ME. obser- 
vance, < OF. observance, < F. observance = Sp. 
Pg. observancia = It. osservansia, osservanza, 
< L. observantia, a watching, noting, attention, 
respect, keeping, etc., < observan(t-)s, ppr. of 
observare, watch, note, observe : see observant.] 
If. Attention; perception; heed; observation. 
Meet. She shows a body rather than a life, 
A statue than a breather. 
Cleo. Is this certain? 
Mess. Or I have no observance. 
Shak., A. and C., iii. 3. 25. 
Here are many debauches and excessive revellings, as 
being out of all noyse and observance. 
Evelyn, Diary, Feb. 27, 1644. 
2. Respectful regard or attention ; hence, rev- 
erence; homage. [Now rare.] 
Alas ! wher is become youre gentilesse? 
Youre wordes ful of plesaunce and huiublesse? 
Youre obaervaunces in so low manere? 
Chaucer, Complaint of Mars, 1. 249. 
All adoration, duty, and observance. 
Shak., As you Like it, v. 2. 102. 
Oh, stand up, 
And let me kneel ! the light will be asham'd 
To see observance done to me by you. 
Beau, and Fl., King and No King, iii. 1. 
Her eyes on all my motions with a mute observance hung. 
Tennyson, Locksley Hall. 
3. The act of observing, paying attention to, 
or following in practice ; compliance in prac- 
tice with the requirements of some law, cus- 
tom, rule, or injunction ; due performance : as, 
the observance of the sabbath; observance of 
stipulations; observance of prescribed forms. 
To make void the last Will of Henry 8. to which the 
Breakers had sworne observance. 
Milton, Reformation in Eng., i. 
Such dupes are men to custom, and so prone 
To rev'rence what is ancient and can plead 
A course of long observance for its use. 
Cowper, Task, v. 301. 
Through all English history the cry has never been for 
new laws, but for the firmer establishment, the stricter 
observance, of the old laws. 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 176. 
4. A custom, rule, or thing to be observed, 
followed, or kept. 
There are other strict observances; 
As, not to see a woman. Shak., L. L. L., i. 1. 36. 
An observance of hermits. 
Strutt, Sports and Pastimes, p. 80. 
5. A rite or ceremony; an act performed in 
token of worship, devotion, or respect. 
And axeth by what observance 
She might moste to the plesaunce 
Of god that nightes reule kepe. 
Oower, Conf. Amant., i. 
Some represent to themselves the whole of religion as 
consisting in a few easy observances. Roym. 
He compass'd her with sweet observances 
And worship, never leaving her. 
Tennyson, Geraint. 
4064 
= Syn. 3. Observance, Observation. These words start 
from two different senses of the same root to pay regard 
to, and to watch. Observation is watching or notice ; 06- 
servance is keeping, conforming to, or complying with. 
Observation was formerly used in the sense of observance : 
as, " the observational the Sabbath is again commanded " 
(caption to Ex. xxxi.); "the opinions which he [Milton] 
has expressed respecting . . . the observation of the Sab- 
bath might, we think, have caused more just surprise " 
(Macaulay, Milton) ; but this use is now obsolescent It 
is desirable that the words should be kept distinct. 
It is a custom 
More honour'd in the breach than the observance. 
Shale., Hamlet, i. 4. 16. 
Observation of the moon's changes leads at length to a 
theory of the solar system. 
H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 12. 
5. Form, Rite, etc. See ceremony. 
observancy (qb-zer'van-si), i. [ As observance 
(see -c#).] Heedful or obedient regard; obser- 
vance; obsequiousness. [Rare.] 
How bend him 
To such observancy of beck and call. 
Browning, Ring and Book, I. 179. 
observandum (ob-zer-van'dum), n. ; pi. obser- 
randa (-da). [L., neut. gerundive of observare, 
observe : see observe.'] A thing to be observed. 
observant (ob-zer'vant), a. and . [= OF. 06- 
sercant = Sp. Pg. observante = It. osservante, < 
L. observan(t-)s, ppr. of obftervare, watch, note, 
observe: see observe.] I. a. 1. Watching; 
watchful ; observing ; having or characterized 
by good powers of observation, or attention, 
care, accuracy, etc., in observing: as, an ob- 
servant mind ; a man of observant habits. 
Wandering from clime to clime observant stray'd, 
Their manners noted, and their states survey'd. 
Pope, Odyssey, i. 5. 
2. Attentive; obedient; submissive; ready to 
obey and serve; hence, obsequious: with to or 
of before a personal object. [Now rare.] 
Then Obedience, by her an elephant, the strongest beast, 
but most observant to man of any creature. 
Webster, Monuments of Honour. 
How could the most base men attain to honour but by 
such an observant, slavish course ? Raleigh. 
And to say the truth, they [Georgian slaves] are in the 
hands of very kind masters, and are as observant of them ; 
for of them they are to expect their liberty, their advance- 
ment, and every thing. 
Pococke, Description of the East, I. 167. 
3. Carefully attentive in observing or perform- 
ing whatever is prescribed or required; strict 
in observing and practising: with of: as, he 
was very observant of the rules of his order; ob- 
servant of forms. 
Tell me, he that knows, 
Why this same strict and most observant watch 
So nightly toils the subject of the land! 
Shak., Hamlet, i. 1. 71. 
= Syn. 1 and 3. Watchful, mindful, heedful, regardful. 
II. . If. An observer. 2f. An obsequious 
or slavish attendant. 
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness 
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends 
Than twenty silly ducking observant*, 
That stretch their duties nicely. Shak., Lear, U. 2. 109. 
3. One who is strict in observing or complying 
with a law, rule, custom, etc. 
Such obseruants they are thereof that our Sauiour him- 
selfe . . . did not teach to pray or wish for more than 
onely that heere it myght bee with vs as with them it is 
in heauen. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, i. 4. 
The Cauncei were a deuout society and order, giuen to 
holinesse of life, and obseruation of the Lawe ; of whom 
was Simon Kannteus, . . . called Zelotes. . . . Suidas 
calleth them obseniants of the Lawe, whom Ananus shut in 
the Temple. Pwchas, Pilgrimage, p. 150. 
4. [cap.'] Specifically, a member of the more 
rigorous class of Franciscans which in the fif- 
teenth century became separated from those 
the Conventuals following a milder rule. 
Observantine (ob-zer'van-tin), n. and a. [< 
Observant + fe**.] I. ji.-Same as Observant, 4. 
He selected for this purpose the Observantines of the 
Franciscan order, the most rigid of the monastic societies. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., ii. 5. 
n. a. Of or pertaining to the Franciscan 
friars called Observants. 
Observantist (ob-zer'van-tist), n. [< Observant 
+ -ist.J Same'as Observant, 4. 
observantly (ob-zer'yant-li), adv. In an obser- 
vant manner; attentively. Wright. 
observation (ob-zer-va'shon), n. [< F. obser- 
vation = Sp. observation = Pg. observaySo = 
It. osservazione, < L. observatio(n-), a watching, 
noting, marking, regard, respect, < observare, 
watch, note, regard: see observe.'} 1. The act 
or fact of observing, and noting or fixing in the 
mind; a seeing and noting; notice: as, a fact 
that does not come under one's observation. 
This Clermont is a meane and ignoble place, having no 
memorable thing therein worthy the observation. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 23. 
observationally 
Our Curiosity was again arrested by the observation of 
another Tower, which appear'd in a thicket not far from 
the way side. Maundrell, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 23. 
The North American Indian had no better eyes than the 
white man ; but he had trained his powers of observation 
in a certain direction, till no sign of the woods escaped 
him. J. F. Clarice, Self-Culture, p. 114. 
2. The habit or power of observing and noting : 
as, a man of great observation. 
I told you Angling is an art, either by practice or along 
observation, or both. /. Walton, Complete Angler, p. 99. 
If my observation, which very seldom lies, 
By the heart's still rhetoric disclosed with eyes, 
Deceive me not now, Navarre is infected. 
Shak.,L.L.L.,iL 1.228. 
3. An act of scientific observing; an accurate 
remarking (often with measurement) of a fact 
directly presented to the senses, together with 
the conditions under which it is presented: as, 
a meridian observation, made by a navigator, 
in which he measures the sun's altitude when 
on the meridian for the purpose of calculating 
the latitude ; the meteorological observations 
made by the Signal Service Bureau. In those 
sciences which describe and explain provinces of the uni- 
verse as it exists, such as astronomy and systematic biol- 
ogy, observations are, for the most part, made under cir- 
cumstances or conditions which may be selected, but 
cannot be produced at will. But in those sciences which 
analyze the behavior of substances under various condi- 
tions it is customary first to place the object to be exam- 
ined under artificially produced Conditions, and then to 
make an observation upon it. This whole performance, of 
which the observation is a part, is called an experiment. 
Formerly sciences were divided into sciences of experi- 
ment and sciences of observation, meaning observation 
without experiment. But now experiments are made in 
all sciences. It is only occasionally that the word obser- 
vation has been used to imply the absence of experimen- 
tation. 
Confounding observation with experiment or Invention 
the act of a cave-man in betaking himself to a drifting 
tree with that of Noah in building himself an ark. 
J. Ward, Encyc. Brit, XX. 75. 
4. The result of such a scientific practice ; the 
information gained by observing: as, to tabulate 
observations. 5. Knowledge; experience. 
In his brain 
... he hath strange places cramm'd 
With observation. Shak. , As you Like it, ii. 7. 41. 
6. A remark, especially a remark based or pro- 
fessing to be based on what has been observed; 
an opinion expressed. 
Rich. Let me be Duke of Clarence, George of Gloucester ; 
For Gloucester's dukedom is too ominous. 
War. Tut, that 's a foolish observation. 
Shak., 3 Hen. VI., ii. 6. 108. 
We owe many valuable observation! to people who are 
not very acute or profound, and who say the thing with- 
out effort which we want and have long been hunting in 
vain. Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. 253. 
7. The fact of being seen or noticed ; notice ; 
remark: as, to escape observation; anxious to 
avoid observation. 8. Observance ; careful at- 
tention to rule, custom, or precept, and per- 
formance of whatever is prescribed or required. 
[Obsolescent.] 
The Character of Mne&s is filled with Piety to the Gods, 
and a superstitious Observation of Prodigies, Oracles, and 
Predictions. Addison, Spectator, No. 351. 
9. A rite ; a ceremony ; an observance. 
Now our observation is perform'd. 
Shak., M. N. D., iv. 1. 109. 
They had their magical! observations in gathering cer- 
taine hearts. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 62. 
The archbishop went about the observation very awk- 
wardly, as one not used to that kind, especially in the 
Lord's Supper. 
Bale, in B. W. Dixon's Hist. Church of Eng., XXL 
Acronychal observation. See acronychal. Army of 
Observation (inilit.), a force detached to watch the 
movements of another army, especially of a relieving 
army during the prosecution of a siege. Error of an 
observation. See error. 5. Eye-and-ear observa- 
tion. Seepj/ei. Latitude by observation. See lati- 
tude. Lunar observation. See lunar. To work an 
observation (naut.). to determine the latitude or longi- 
tude by calculations based on the altitude or position of the 
sun or other heavenly body as observed and ascertained 
by instrumental measurement. = Syn. Observance, Observa- 
tion. See observance. 3. Experiment, etc. See experience. 
6. Note, Comment, etc. (see remark, n.), annotation. 
Observational (ob-zer-va'shon-al), a. [< ob- 
servation + -al.] 1. Of, pertaining to, or used 
in observation, especially in observation with- 
out experimentation. 
Already Harvey, Boyle, and Newton were successfully 
prosecuting the observational method, and showing how 
rich mines of wealth it had opened. 
McCosh, Locke's Theory of Knowledge, p. 12. 
2. Derived from or founded on observation : 
in this sense usually opposed to experimental. 
Sir Charles I yell has been largely influential in the es- 
tablishment of Geology as a truly observational science. 
Geikie, Geol. Sketches, ii. 27. 
observationally (ob-zer-va'shoii-al-i), adv. 
By means of observation. 
